If you follow the media or believe the politicians, the European Union seems to be in a crisis. In many countries, politicians try to be successful with Anti-European ideas. That is why the other European countries are usually waiting anxiously for the results of many previous elections, as for example in France. Each election is a decision about the fate of Europe. In many countries throughout Europe, governments tell their people that the only way to solve this crisis would be to close their borders and thus to isolate themselves from European concerns. Showing solidarity with their European neighbours and concern for their problems does not seem to be very popular in the countries of the European Union at the moment. The Brexit can clearly be seen as one result of those ideas. Only some politicians, such as the new president of France, are founding their ideas and political strategies on the advantages the European Union has to offer.
This was the reason why we have started the Erasmus+ - Project “Spirit of Europe“. We wanted to go back to the roots and examine the original intentions of the European Union. The questions discussed during the project have been as follows: Why and how has the European Union come into being ? What were its aims ? Why did those countries enter the European Union ? What are the advantages to be a member of the European Union ?
The idea was to give our students a realistic view of the European Union. So they should get to know the views of other countries on the subject first-hand by travelling there. They should be made aware of the different perspectives news coverage offers on the topic in comparison to personal experiences. Thus they should be enabled to question their own position within this context.
So students of four European Schools, (Osg Willemblaeu, Alkmaar, Netherlands - Liceo scientifico „R.Nuzzi“, Andria, Italy – Celldömölki Berzsenyi Dániel Gimnázium, Celldömölk, Hungary - Gymnasium Wertingen, Wertingen, Germany) have been working on these topics for two years.
Some of the results are now published in this book. We have started with a survey about the young people's opinion on the European Union. You will find some pages about the European Union next. Finally, we have tried to give an outlook on the future of the EU: How do we imagine the European Union in the future? What are the ideas and expectations of our students ?
(Survey among the students of the participating schools)
Creation of the European Union
European Institutions
Euro the common currency
Some facts about the European Union
The influence of the EU on everyday life
Europe land of peace
Describe to a foreigner the advantages and disadvantages of the European Union
What kind of European Union do you want to have in the future ?
What properties should the perfect European or the perfect European country have ?
The interview
During the learning activities in the different countries we made intervies with local authorities or members of the European or national Parliament.
Results of the Project
On this page you will find some of the materials we have produced during the project.
This link brings you to the results